An Early Look Into The Pirates Starting Pitching Options This Winter

There is no hiding the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates need to make upgrades to their lackluster 2019 starting rotation. Many across baseball believed that they had one of the best rotations in all of baseball coming into the season. But, things obviously have not panned out.

The theme for the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation has been inconsistency and flat out mediocrity. Jameson Taillon has lost basically the entirety of the 2019 season and now the 2020 season due to Tommy John surgery, Chris Archer has struggled with command, efficiency, and the long ball, and Trevor Williams has struggled to get outs. Joe Musgrove has been the most consistent pitcher in this rotation, but has struggled mightily in the later innings.

It appears that the 2020 starting rotation will most likely include Musgrove, Archer, Keller, and Williams. Steven Brault could also see an extended look next season. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Pirates pick up Archer’s option simply due to their lack of starting pitching depth. With the way Williams has pitched this season, he could be a candidate to be replaced via trade/FA signing.

I will highlight some likely starting pitching options that Neal Huntington could add to the mix in Pittsburgh.

Rick Porcello

It is out of the realm of possibility that the Pirates sign a guy like Stephen Strasburg or Gerrit Cole this off-season, so they will be focusing on the less expensive options. Rick Porcello could be a cheaper alternative.

Porcello signed a 4-year / $82,500,000 contract extension with the Red Sox that paid him an annual salary of $20,625,000. He will not command nearly that amount this off-season as he has struggled for the past 3 years. The 30 year-old Porcello has posted a 5.49 ERA in 25 starts this season with the Sox and he hasn’t been good since his Cy Young season in 2016. A veteran that has had success and a taste of the playoffs, Porcello could be an option for the Pirates.

Like Archer, Porcello’s years of being a great pitcher are behind him. In his 11-year career in the Majors he has posted a sub 4.00 ERA only 3 times with 3.15 being the lowest. His career ERA is a 4.34 in 332 starts. He will simply never be worth $82 million at any point again, but may be in the price range that Neal Huntington is looking for. A one-year deal would be more likely in a marriage with the Buccos so he is able to try and rebuild his value.

Michael Wacha

This could be a very realistic option for the Pirates to explore. In 7 years with St. Louis, Michael Wacha has posted a 3.95 ERA. He has given up his share of walks in the past couple years, but he also has a career 7.9 SO/9 ratio, which isn’t terrible. He has also been susceptible to the long ball over the course of his tenure with the Red Birds.

He could provide value to the Pirates rotation at a low rate. This season, Wacha made just over $6 million. Due to his rich injury history, his AAV could take a hit going into free agency this winter. AKA, he is affordable for the Pirates.

He will be 28 next season, so he still has tread on his tires. I could envision a multi-year deal for Wacha at the right price. In 2016, the Pirates inked Ivan Nova to a 3-year, $26 million deal that included $2 million in performance bonuses per year. This is the richest deal the Pirates have struck for a starting pitcher. A deal for Wacha could resemble Nova’s contract extension. With the Bucs struggles with starting pitching, this could be a move that benefits them for the next couple seasons.

Jake Odorizzi

Jake Odorizzi has been good in his 8-year career with the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins. He boasts a lifetime 3.90 ERA with a 8.5 SO/9. It seems as he has reached another level in his past 2 seasons with the Twins, posting a 2.8 WAR. He strikes out about 16% more batters than he walks while allowing them a .233 BA against. Odorizzi is coming off his best season to date after his first All-Star appearance.

Odorizzi probably isn’t the type of guy the Pirates sign, but it is very possible. He may command a little more money than they like to spend, but signing a pitcher like this immediately improves the rotation. With guys like Francisco Cervelli, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Melky Cabrera coming off of the books, it frees up more money for them to use. Neal Huntington has a philosophy, and that is to spend as little as you possibly can on as many guys as you can. He doesn’t believe in spending big on free agents, more or less what you have seen last off-season with Chisnehall, Cabrera, and Lyles. Odorizzi wouldn’t come as cheap as those guys, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that it can’t be done.

Dustin May

This would be a very exciting addition to the Pirates rotation. But, to do this, would mean the subtraction of Felipe Vazquez. The Dodgers and Pirates had extensive conversations about Vazquez leading up to the 2019 trade deadline, but weren’t able to get a deal set in stone. The Pirates were reportedly asking for Dustin May in any package for Vazquez. A deal was more likely to happen in the winter for the Pirates flame-throwing closer. Talks could pick up after the season between LA and Pittsburgh. Especially if the Dodger bullpen costs the team in October once again.

The Dodger bullpen has struggled this season as well as imploding in the world series for the past couple years. They may get a bit desperate to add impact relievers to their diminished bullpen. It would be quite exciting to plug May in the rotation next to Mitch Keller, another young starter with potential.

They call him Gingergaard because he has long red locks that resemble Noah Syndergaard‘s flow. He recently was called up to make his debut in the majors and you can see why the Dodgers covet him. A tall, lanky presence on the mound that throws upper 90’s. It will be quite interesting to see how the Dodgers 2019 playoff run ends. It could have them running to the Pirates with more of a willingness to let May go in a trade for Vazquez.